V1E9 - Black And Blue (Volume Finale)
Two days. Blake and Anon have been missing since Friday and Saturday with zero contact. The only thing they got after texting them was that their message was that the message was sent.
"Bastard left me on read," Yang grumbled.
"Same here," Ruby noted sadly. "I wonder if they're ok..."
Weiss sat cross-legged, one leg bouncing as she glared at her phone.
"Useless fool." She spat. "When I get my hand on him, I'll give him a piece of my mind!"
"Don't you always do that though?" Yang teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh shut up!"
Ruby sighed through her nose.
"C'mon. Let's go find them."
A bummed out Ruby left the room. Yang frowned at where her sister was.
"She's been down for a while."
"She'll get over it once we find them." Weiss got up from her seat.
"Can you care for one moment?"
"Will you do the smart thing and call the police?" Weiss retorted coldly. "They are both missing people."
Yang sighed.
"We talked about this."
"And my stance won't change. Blake is associated with the White Fang and Anon is an accomplice."
"You don't know that!"
"How else could he have known then?!"
Yang exhaled through her nose.
"I don't know. And the only way we'll know is when we find them." She turned to leave. "Now c'mon, snow princess."
"Don't call me that!"
...
"Hey, Ruby."
Ruby looked to her right, a timid-looking rabbit Faunus waved at her.
"Hey, Velvet. " She greeted weakly.
"Still no news on Anon?"
Ruby shook her head.
"No, sorry."
Velvet gave a defeated sigh.
"It's ok." She sounded exhausted. "I've been worrying about him all weekend."
Ruby tried to pep her up.
"I bet he's fine. He's smart, so I doubt he'll get himself into trouble."
Velvet paused.
"You don't sound too sure."
"I-" Ruby looked down. "I know Anon will be fine, it's just..."
She tried to explain but came up short.
"I can't help but worry when he doesn't talk," Ruby admitted in exasperation.
"I know all too well what you mean." Velvet shook her head angrily. "It's like trying to solve a rubrics cube when you're colour blind"
Ruy nodded in complete agreement.
"When we'll find him, he'll have a lot to explain."
"Huh, count me in." Velvet grumbled.
Ruby saw her sister and partner finally catching up to her. She waved Velvet goodbye.
"I'll keep you in touch if we find anything."
"Thank you, Ruby." Velvet smiled at the young leader. "Good luck."
Two days have passed since Blake and Anon began crashing at Tukson's. Two days since they left without another word. Blake mindlessly dusted the shelves to occupy herself. Anything to keep her from thinking about the argument, anything to keep her from thinking about how the others must view her. Even in her own head, she's running away. She banished the thought and looked at the clock.
"Anon's late."
The grunt of exertion notified her of Tukson's hard work, as he was busy moving boxes full of old magazines to dispose of.
"Cut him some slack, Kitten," He noted with a teasing smirk. "It is lunch hour and he's going to WcRonald's."
Blake could still hear Anon's demented laughter when he discovered the name of one of Remnant's biggest fast-food chains. Still, she frowned at the pet name.
"Could you not? It's bad enough when Anon calls me that."
"What? Little kitten?" He played dumb. "I don't see what's wrong with your boyfriend calling you that."
She grunted in annoyance.
"Urgh! It's not like that!"
"Sure it isn't." He rolled his eyes. "Then why the heck do still share the futon then?"
Blake froze.
"Wait... How do you-"
Tukson looked unimpressed.
"Blake, this is my home. I think I would know what happens in my home."
Blake felt her spaghetti spilling from her pockets, unable to give a proper excuse.
"L-look, the point is: me and him aren't in a relationship!" She declared. "We are just friends!"
Tukson just nodded and smiled, resting his chin in his hand. She ground her teeth, her forehead bearing a tick mark and heating up in a mix of anger and embarrassment. She did mean it when she said that they were just friends. However, she'd be diluting herself if she didn't admit that their sleeping arrangement didn't stink of romance. Two people, holding each other closely on the couch and basically cuddling as they slept. She humphed and redirected her anger towards eliminating all traces of dust in the shop. Tukson chuckled to himself.
"Poor Blake, being bullied by an old man."
"Damn right! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
This only made Tukson laugh harder.
...
Blake stood at the shop's entrance and smiled proudly. Not a spec of dust on the shelves, not a single stain on the carpet and not a single smudge on the shop's windows. She admired her work and sighed happily.
"If only the dorm could be this clean."
"I mean, I don't recommend it but you're welcome to try."
Blake whipped her head back at a breakneck pace, her amber eyes meeting a playful pair of lilac orbs. Yang smiled innocently.
"Yang?!"
"Sup." Yang's smile disappeared. "Been two days."
Blake looked away shamefully, staying silent. Tukson stood behind the counter, eyeing Yang with apprehension. The silence hung for a few more seconds before Yang talked again.
"How you been?" Yang asked.
"...Fine, I guess?"
The silence returned. Yang shook her head with an annoyed sigh.
"C'mon, talk!" She encouraged. "I'm not gonna bite you!"
"What can I say?" Blake asked genuinely. "I was in the White Fang? I hurt people? I stood by as we executed innocents and guilty alike?"
Blake's face scrunched in shame and self-disgust.
"Is that what you want me to say? To confess to all my crimes?" She struggled to say through the lump in her throat.
Yang, realizing her blunder, freaked out.
"N-no, I-" She bumbled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-."
"You fucking suck at this, sunflower."
Yang turned and saw Anon standing in the door frame, chewing on a cigar and holding a plastic bag in one hand and a big thermal bag that stunk of fried food. He walked past her and presented Blake with the bag.
"Got that fish-filet sandwich you kept talking about," He said with a smirk.
He opened the bag and took out a paper sack that stunk of fish. Yang pinched her nose at the smell. Blake hesitantly took the sack and smelled it, a small smile slowly forming.
"Thanks," She mumbled.
He scratched the back of her cat ears, much to her annoyance (And secretly, her pleasure).
"Yer welcome." He walked towards the reading lounge. "Now you're in luck, sunflower. They had an extra meal that some impatient fuck forgot."
He turned to her, smiling coyly.
"That is if you can stand lunching with a bunch of sinners, of course."
Anon sat on the lounge's couch, nonchalantly tossing Tukson his lunch.
"You're lucky, they made that big boy chicken burger fresh."
The girls looked at Tuk, who just shrugged and joined Anon in the lounge.
"Wonderful," He said as he pulled a double-decker chicken sandwich out of the bag. "I can't stand the stale garbage they keep under those lamps."
The girls exchanged looks, still unsure. Yang grumbled before throwing her hands in the air.
"Gah! Screw this awkward nonsense!" She walked over to the lounge. "Come on, Anon, scoot. "
Blake looked down then to the sack that Anon gave her. She looked over to the lounge, seeing Anon smiling expectantly.
"I'm waiting on you to start, nightshade."
Blake smiled before joining the group.
Anon had spent about a solid ten minutes avoiding Ruby and Weiss in the streets. He heard Ruby shouting his and Blake's name while Weiss was...
Well, being Weiss.
He thought he had been slick, dodging two teenage girls in the street. Turns out, Blondie McGee had found them anyways. Not only that, She had obviously confronted Blake and nearly brought her to tears. To say that he was annoyed about the current state of affairs would cut it about right. Oh well, nothing he can't fix with shitty fast food and his ''''' Winning ''''' smile.
Once Blake had joined them in the lounge, Anon pulled out his sandwich from the bag.
"Yoink!" Yang said as she snatched his sandwich. "Don't mind if I do~!"
Anon rolled his eyes at Ruby's older sister. She crunched through the sandwich with gusto.
"Cwispy~!" She managed to say with her mouth full.
She suddenly stopped chewing, She turned a bright red and started sweating profusely.
"H-hot!" She blurted after swallowing. "REAL HOT!"
Anon smiled innocently.
"What's wrong? Can't handle a little bit of spice?"
Yang started coughing and chocking.
"OH, MY GODS!" She yelled before breathing heavily. "WHAT THE FUCK!? WHAT'S IN THAT SANDWICH?!"
"Oh, not much. Freshly fried chicken patty, fresh lettuce, dairy-based dinner roll, anal destroyer special sauce." He counted off.
"W-what?!" Yang began panicking. "You mean that stuff that has Vacuoen Inferno peppers in it?!"
"The stuff that sends weak people directly to the ER? Yes."
Blake began chuckling as Yang had a meltdown, swearing, coughing and sweating like she was going to die. Anon took out cans of soda out of the plastic bag.
"Which do you want?" He said presenting her with lemon-lime and orange sodas.
Yang snatched the orange can and downed it, only to throw it down halfway through, coughing even worse.
"MY TONGUE!" She screamed before collapsing on the ground. "OH, THIS WAS A MISTAKE!"
Anon was shamelessly grinning while Blake burst out laughing. It took her a half hour to begin recovery with the aid of her aura. Her hair was a mess and she was drenched in sweat.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" She demanded to know, still panting and sweating.
"You literally yoinked it out of my hands and bit into it without a second thought."
"That's no excuse!"
Anon shrugged before eating the last bite of the sandwich that messed Yang up. Tukson raised an eyebrow at him while giving Yang a jug of milk and a glass.
"Wait, you ate the rest?"
"Unlike a certain blondie, I can handle my spice."
"Screw you!" Yang blithered as she chugged milk straight from the jug.
"You're gonna get sick," Blake warned.
"Don't care!" Yang kept chugging milk.
Like clockwork, Yang started to retch after drinking two-thirds of the jugs. Yang held her mouth shut as she rushed to the bathroom. Anon kept smiling like an asshole while Tukson bobbed his head in amusement.
"Can't say you didn't warn her," Anon said.
Blake shrugged.
"Yeah..."
Blake's good mood became dour, Anon rolled his eyes.
Back to business, I guess.
"Thinking about how to break it all down for her?"
Blake nodded.
"I just don't know how to explain it."
It was Anon's turn to shrug.
"Just be honest."
"That's it? Just be honest?"
"Look nightshade, honesty saves everyone time," He explained. "It's rough, it hurts, it's ugly but once it's out of the way; there will be no ambiguity nor room for doubt."
Blake pondered on it, still unsure. Ultimately, she nodded with determined eyes.
"Alright, I know what I have to do."
The bathroom door swung open, Yang slinked out utterly trashed and looking like crap.
"My life is pain right now..." She complained.
Blake paused before turning to Anon.
"I'll... I'll do it a bit later."
...
The afternoon rolled by and the four sat at the lounge. Tukson had closed shop early, just so they could have privacy. Yang had leaned forward, listening intently at Blake's story.
"So, I left," Blake explained, slightly remorseful. "I decided I no longer wanted to use my skills to aid in their violence, and instead, I would dedicate my life to becoming a Huntswoman. So here I am, a criminal hiding in plain view, all with the help of a little black bow."
She wiggled her uncovered cat ears for emphasis. Once she was done, Yang leaned back.
"Damn. That... That's rough." Was all she could say.
Anon was smoking as he often did, his mouth crooking a cynical sneer.
"Riots never changed anything, it only drives people further apart. It only makes the resentment and hatred worse." He looked off into the void. "I would know."
Blake froze, a thought drifting into her mind. She looked away nervously.
"A-Anon? When you say that, do you mean?"
He sighed.
"No, it had nothing to do with the White Fang."
Now she was confused.
"Then what do you mean?"
He looked at her, then at his cigar.
"Let's just say that, if people are angry or indoctrinated enough; Bad shit tends to happen." He looked away. "Whether it was legitimate or not."
His gaze peered outside the front window, to the happy people that walked by.
"I've seen entire lives uprooted, their homes and businesses torched to the ground."
The happy people were replaced by masked thugs, wearing all black with red armbands.
"I've seen good people trying to do the right thing."
Little children were holding homemade cardboard signs with a peace symbol. Their parents watched over them to make sure they were safe. The crowd stood in front of heavily armoured officers. Most remained stoic, others looked pained at the crowd, a few were gritting their teeth in anticipation.
"Only for them to be victimized."
The children were violently pushed aside as the thugs threw firebombs into the wall of shields. The crowd turned into a sea of black-clad thugs that pushed into the wall of shields. Children and parents were trampled or hit aside. The officers pushed back, most were stoic, others with tear-stained faces and a few grinning madly.
"Only to die."
The sound of screaming drowned out even the sound of gunfire coming from every direction. The only thing that was left once the fires burned out and the gunfire stopped was gut-wrenching silence.
Anon inhaled through his nose then exhaled through his mouth.
"I wasn't there myself, but I've seen the aftermath. And believe me when I say that the Fang is going the same way as those poor protesters. Good people replaced by monsters, and a government that wants control no matter the cost."
Everyone was staring at Anon at a loss for words, Blake especially.
"Just who are you?" She finally asked.
Anon tapped his cigar lightly to shake off the ashes.
"An extra-dimensional alien that got skadooshed into your world by forces beyond anyone's comprehension," He said with a straight face.
Yang blinked.
"Wut?"
Anon smiled cheesily.
"Y'see, I'm from this world called Eden, ok?" He waved his hands around exaggeratedly. "And shit is wack there! There's shit like planet-wide pollution, child soldiers in third world countries, celebrity pedophile rings, and people who unironically like communism!"
Blake and Yang stared blankly at him.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yang asked in utter confusion. "What the fuck is communism!?"
"One of the shittiest ideologies ever created. Killed sixty-five million people in one hundred years, from 1917 to 2017!"
"How many?!" Yang balked at the number.
Tukson covered his eyes as he chuckled.
"He's clearly pulling your legs, miss."
Yang took a second to process, then looked at a still smiling Anon.
"Oh... R-right." She chuckled. "T-there's no way he can be serious."
Jokes on you!
Anon put his hands beside his head in a cheeky motion.
Blake had been squinting at him, scrutinizing his every word. She sighed once she understood that it made no sense.
"Seriously..."
"Who I am is honestly kind of irrelevant, nightshade." He shrugged. "What you see is what you get."
She rolled her eyes exasperatedly.
"Right." She drolled.
Still, the air had lightened up slightly. Although there was still a glaring issue.
"What now?" Yang asked. "You still don't want to come back?"
Blake held her chin pensively. She racked her throat angrily.
"I still don't believe that the White Fang would do this! I refuse to believe that Weiss is right about them."
Anon sighed discouragedly causing Blake to glare at him.
"If you have something to say, then say it."
Anon held her glare with indifference.
"It's them. Period."
"How would you know?! Never in our history have we needed that much Dust before!"
Anon rolled his eyes.
"Are you seriously asking me how I know things?" Blake held her glare. "Fine, let me put it into words."
He cleared his throat and smile mysteriously.
"I just know." His smile disappeared. "There, happy?"
Blake wasn't happy.
"Fine." Anon left his seat and pulled out his scroll. "I guess we can do this the hard way then."
He sent coordinates to both Blake and Yang's scrolls. The location was labelled 'Private Schnee docks.'
"The Fang plus Carrot Top are going to steal a Schnee cargo freighter."
Blake glared bewilderedly at her scroll.
"They strike tonight. Take it or leave it."
Anon left the lounge without looking back, without hesitation. The door's bell rang as he exited the building. Soon enough, the bell rang again. He smirked.
"Believe me yet?"
"Not a word," Blake said. "But I have to be certain."
"Whatever makes you happy, nightshade."
Anon laid on his back, looking at the stars as Blake overlooked the entire dock with her superior feline senses. Yang climbed up the maintenance ladder up to the roof.
"The docks are clear." The blonde brawler explained. "Not a soul in sight."
"Good," Anon said. "No collateral when shit'll hit the fan."
"IF stuff hits the fan." Blake corrected.
"I know I'm right, so I won't bother arguing."
Yang looked between the two, frustration beginning to mount.
"Can you two chill? You've been at it since we left the bookstore."
"Oh, we will," Anon said nonchalantly. "Once Carrot Top makes his entrance."
"Who?" Yang asked.
"Torchwick."
The wind began to pick up and the low whine of bullhead engines could be picked up on.
"Speak of the devil and he will appear." Anon quipped as he rose into a low crouch.
Soon enough, a pair of bullheads flew into the docks. One was a personnel carrier model and the other looked like a cargo hauler. The hauler bullhead's searchlight flashed around before focusing on a cluster of containers marked with the Schnee emblem. The carrier touched down and from its sides spewed many shadowy figures. They wore black hoods, white Grimm-like masks and protective grey jackets; their backs emblazoned with a predator's head superimposed over three red claw marks. Blake gapped in horror.
"No..." Anon could hear her heart breaking.
Told you so...
Someone, probably their boss, was barking orders at his fellow White Fangs. The hauler set itself into position for them to set up the towing cables.
Yang winced at Blake's reaction.
"You really didn't think they were behind it, did you?"
Blake looked away from the scene below, clenching her eyes shut.
"I wanted to believe... I think I already knew, deep down." She started muttering to mask her sadness. "I just didn't want to be right..."
"Wait till you see this," Anon said as he pointed to someone who was way out of his depth.
"What's the hold-up?!" Torchwick demanded to know, gesturing widely. "We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment!"
He tapped impatiently on his wrist like he had a watch.
"So please, kindly pick up the freaking pace!"
Blake glared speechlessly at the whole scene set before her.
"This... This doesn't make any sense!" She managed to say, her tone burning of righteous indignation. "The White Fang would never work with a Human, especially not one like him!"
Before she could stand up, Anon gripped her wrist.
"Don't be a hero!" He whispered. "Not yet anyway."
Anon had been thinking about what to do with the situation ever since he reread the Black and White transcript.
Shit has changed too much, I need to cover our bases to avoid future nonsense.
Anon noticed a pair of White Fang enforcers walking away from the operation, probably to keep an eye out for outside factors. He cocked an eyebrow.
"These two are isolating themselves from the rest..." He told himself.
Lightbulb.
"I think I have an idea," He told the black and yellow duo.
He pointed to the containers, then to the Fangs.
"Blake, you're the most agile and discreet out of everyone." He pulled out his scroll on photo mode to demonstrate. "I need you to take photo evidence of their presence and anything that you think could help us in a future investigation."
She pulled out her own scroll and frowned.
"The flash would give me away and if I don't use it, the photo quality will go down the sinker."
Anon pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Blake after unlocking it. She eyed it curiously before taking it.
"Weighty."
"It's the case," He explained. "Anyways, this model has a special camera with multi-spectra modes. It has night-vision among other things."
She tested his claim and sure enough, the screen turned a green tinge and showed a clear picture sight despite the darkness. She waved the phone up and down.
"Where the heck did you get this?"
Anon smirked.
"Alien, remember." He half-joked.
Blake rolled her eyes before focusing on the docks.
"Alright. I'll get as much info as I can."
"Awesome." He turned to Yang. "Now onto your role."
Yang pointed to herself.
"What'chu need?"
He pointed to the isolated White Fang duo.
"Are you up for some undercover sabotage?"
Yang lit up.
"Heck yeah!"
"I need you to distract them. Once their attention is on you, I'll swoop in and we knock them out without any fuss."
"Then?"
"We steal their clothes and weapons then we infiltrate. We pretend to help and gather as much info as we can. Dates, people, ops, anything that we can get."
He pointed to Blake.
"Once she's ready, we go loud and decimate the fuckers before they accomplish their goals."
"Sounds like a plan." Blake nodded.
"Let's do this!" Yang was hyped.
"Alright." He rubbed his hands together. "Operation: Fang Breaker is a go!"
...
Anon slowly went down the service access ladder along with Yang. The warehouse was downright eery in how quiet it was.
"Uhh..." Yang hesitated. "I know I agreed to this but..."
"What's up?"
"How am I supposed to get these guy's attention again?"
Anon paused, not having thought about that.
"Wing it?"
Yang gave him 'the look'.
"Seriously?"
"Look, just improvise!" An idea struck him at the moment. "I mean, for someone as confident and charismatic as you, it shouldn't be too hard."
Anon couldn't see much in the darkness of the warehouse, but Yang clearly took it well.
"Really?! You think so?" She sounded flattered.
"Yeah. Just... Just do what you do best."
"Alright! Let's freaking go!"
Yang ran off to the other side of the warehouse to catch the enforcer duo by the front.
"...You are way too easy, darl."
Anon gently opened one of the back doors, peering around cautiously. In front of him were the enforcers, their backs turned to him. Both had a sword on their hips but one had a pistol and the other a rifle. Anon looked around and saw an old set of pipes jutting out of the wall. Anon delicately pried off one of the pipes. He winced at the metallic whine of the old pipe.
"Nice and-" with a quick tug, the pipe was free. "-Easy."
Anon looked over at the duo and saw Yang accosted them.
"The fuck is she holding?" He wondered. "Is that a... bottle?"
...
"It's quiet." Enforcer #1 said.
"I swear to Darkness, if you say that damn line again, I will dunk your ass straight into the water!" Enforcer #2 replied angrily.
"What? I'm bored!"
"Then be bored in silence!"
"...It's quiet."
"OH MY-"
The patroling enforcer stopped as Yang stumbled forward. The blonde brawler stumbled into the walk, laughing ecstatically.
"Whooo! That was-" she hiccuped. "One hell of a party!"
Her head swivelled to the two enforcers. Enforcer #1 looked apprehensively at his companion, who motioned him to deal with her himself. Enforcer #1 holstered his pistol and approached Yang.
"Move along, miss," He said. "You shouldn't be here."
"Why's that, purty boy~?" She purred.
She slid her arm across his shoulders and tilted his head. At first, he flinched at the smell of alcohol. However, his gaze travelled down to her ample breasts, causing him to swallow and sweat. His compatriot snorted.
"Gods, what a virgin you are."
"S-shut up!"
"There nothing wrong with that, you know~." Yang continued, tracing her finger across his chest.
"P-Please stop..."
Yang pouted.
"Why though? Am I not fun enough?"
She pressed herself against him, her breast squishing against his grey vest. He started spluttering, his face glowing a bright pink and a streak of blood running down his nose. His compatriot had a giggling fit at his annoying friend being toyed with.
"Snrk! Hihihihi! He's literally pink! What an-"
Before he could finish, a resounding thunk echoed in the alley. The rifleman fell to the floor in a heap, behind him stood Anon holding a bent piece of pipe. The first enforcer turned in time to see his comrade fall only for him to get slugged across the jaw by Yang. He slumped to the ground flaccidly, next to his companion.
Yang whistled.
"Nice hit." She complimented.
"I just hope I didn't cave his skull in." He winced looking at the bent pipe that was once straight.
"Meh, we're hardier than you think, 'Alien'."
"You are not going to let that go, are you?"
"Nope!"
He pointed to the bottle.
"Where d'you get that?"
"I paid some homeless guy to give me the bottle. I used what was left to dab my nape for that authentic drunken stench."
Anon snorted.
Did Qrow teach you that one?
She hauled the two enforcers onto her shoulders and brought them into the warehouse.
"And off you go!" She said as she dropped them into a corner.
Anon proceeded to strip the White Fang members to their undies.
"Done." He started unbuttoning his shirt. "Our turn."
"Uhhhh." Yang looked away as Anon began undressing, clearly embarrassed. "You want some privacy, dude?"
"No time, now hurry up."
"R-right." She took the larger set of clothes and scooted away. "I'll uh... I'll be over there. No peeking!"
Anon had no trouble getting into the terrorist uniform, although he did float in the protective jacket. He strapped the sword to his hip and slung the rifle over his shoulder.
"Yang, you done?" He asked.
"Just a sec!"
He heard her quietly swear and complain. He heard her sigh.
"Um... Dude? I need some help."
Aw fuck, I know where this is going.
Anon turned the corner and was treated to a gibbous moon, much to his amusement.
"Kek."
"Oh hush up and help me!" She whisper-yelled. "These stupid pants are too small at the waist!"
"Whose fault is it? His for being flatter than a plank or yours for having a phat arse?"
Yang groaned as Anon chuckled. He gripped the side of her pants.
"On three."
"Ok... Three!"
Both of them groaned as they tried to force the pants up.
"Motherfu-"
"Again!"
Once more, she failed to wear the pants.
"Damn you and your child-bearing hips!"
"W-what?!"
"Again!"
Third verse same as the first.
"Oh come on!" Yang complained, beyond embarrassed.
"Alright, fuck this."
Anon took hold of the situation. Yang yelped at being groped.
"WHAT THE FU-"
Anon squished her butt with one hand before forcefully stuffing it into her pants with the other hand.
"There!" He said after exhaling at the effort.
Yang backed away, staring daggers at him with a furious blush.
"You pig!" She accused while pointing.
"Look, we're on the clock. I'll let you kick my ass once we're done."
She scoffed.
"Damn right I will!"
Yang finished putting on the uniform. Anon snorted once more.
"Well," He said. "You certainly fill out the uniform."
"Oh shut up!" She tugged at the collar of the vest. "It's hard to breathe in this thing."
"Let's go then, the sooner we finish, the sooner you can get out this thing."
"And kick your ass," She added, still bitter.
"And kick my ass, yes. Now, let's get a move on."
...
The docks were chaotic with people running about and checking containers, making sure that things were in order. Anon noticed Blake atop one of the cranes, using her shadow clones to cover her. He nodded to her and she changed position. Anon flinched when one of the higher up accosted him.
"Report."
He shrugged.
"Just some drunk chick, sir." He explained. "She didn't even question it when we said we were private security."
"Good. Now stop star gazing and help out the sorting crew."
"Yes sir!" Anon saluted.
The apparent boss racked his throat.
"I'm not Adam Taurus, son. No need to be so serious."
"R-right."
He pointed to Yang.
"You, blondie."
She flinched too.
"Yeah?"
"You look like you got some meat on your bones, go help out those morons with the towing cables."
She did a two-finger salute.
"Will do, boss."
The boss moved on to dole out more orders. The pair nodded to each other and separated to do their tasks.
Before he could join up with a group of White Fangs, He felt a hand snaking its way into his pocket. Anon clamped his grip around the would-be thief's hand. Anon glared behind his mask.
"Boss," He said coldly.
"You're sharp." Torchwick smiled condescendingly. "That's kind of annoying."
"You're not the first pickpocket I've dealt with." Anon let go of Torchwick's hand. "Although none have been as flamboyant as you."
"I'll take that as a compliment!" He chuckled. "You from Vacuo? I wouldn't be surprised."
"No," Anon told him curtly. "You needed me for something or are you just here to waste my fucking time?"
"Yeesh, someone's cranky!" Torchwick leaned back in mock shock. "But yes, I do need one of you... People, to help me with something."
Anon nodded.
This cannot be good.
Anon's eyes, hidden behind the mask, swivelled up to the building above. He could make out Blake's amber eyes amidst the dark.
"Lead the way." He finally said.
Anon followed the orange-haired criminal, clutching his rifle with apprehension. He looked to the side and saw that Blake was following him by the rooftops. Anon's gut told him that something was wrong. Just in case, he prepared a message for the whole of Team RWBY.
Roman had taken him inside the warehouse where Anon and Yang had stashed their stuff and the two White Fan enforcers
Bloody hell.
"Y'see, there seems to be a bit of a problem." Torchwick elaborated.
He looked knowingly at Anon.
"I found two unconscious Faunuses while I happened to skulk about."
"Fuck does that mean?"
Torchwick scratched the back of his neck.
"I don't know myself. I felt a cold breeze at my back, then I felt the need to follow it here."
Anon's face twisted in unbelief.
"What kind of daft jackass follows a breeze?!"
"Well this one, apparently." Even Torchwick found it odd. "Anyways, mind telling me what this is about?"
Anon's eyes darted around and he angrily gnashed his teeth, trying to stay in character.
"How should I know?! Damn it!" He turned around. "We have to tell the rest!"
He felt a weight on his shoulder. The cold metal of Torchwick's Melodic Cudgel pressed against his cheek.
"Already done."
...
Meanwhile, Yang was too busy helping setting up the tow cables to notice the slowly encroaching White Fangs.
...
"Two bulky guys leave on patrol and one comes back scrawny and the other with a sex change? You think I wouldn't put two and two together?!" Torchwick taunted indignantly. "How stupid do you think I am?!"
"Considering who's holding your leash..."
Anon smirked.
"Very."
Torchwick cracked his cane across Anon's face, shattering the mask and sending him to the ground. Anon hadn't had the time to get up before the criminal mastermind continued wailing on him. A sudden downward swipe caught next to Anon's right eye. His eyebrow split, the wound reaching next to his cheekbone and narrowly avoiding his eyelid. Anon let out a pained cry before grabbing Melodic Cudgel by the foot and angrily pushing the other end into Roman's stomach.
Anon got on his feet and sent the prepared message on his scroll.
'ALERT: SCHNEE PRIVATE DOCK OP IS FUBAR. RAISE HELL.'
Anon readied his rifle and opened fire on Torchwick.
...
As soon as Yang read the message, the repeating popping of an automatic firearm reverbed throughout the docks. She turned around towards the sound, only to be met by an angry gang of White Fang enforcers. She shrugged.
"Meh, I've never been one for subtlety anyhow."
The White Fang leader stepped forward, a shock maul at the ready.
"They'll bury you in a lunch box, human!" He threatened.
"Welp."
Yang flexed her muscles, ripping her sleeves and pant legs to shred. The buttons on the pilfered vest also exploded, injuring at least one enforcer. She exhaled happily.
"Thank the gods! I could barely breathe in that thing!"
She threw her arms back, unfolding her gauntlet and racking a shell into their chambers.
"I guess I'll do as he asked then." She dramatically took off her mask and grinned. "LET'S RAISE HELL!"
...
Roman dashed to cover, panicking at being under fire. Anon momentarily stopped firing after his rifle jammed. After a few attempts at jerking the charging handle back, he tossed the rifle aside.
"Piece of shit." He cursed.
He groaned as he held his wound, his viscous blood staining the vest's collar. He angrily ripped the jacket off.
Fuck that hurts! I'm way out of my league, I'll have to hope that Ruby and Weiss get here ASAP.
Anon's head swivelled around, trying to locate any movement in the darkness.
Gunshots. Four gunshots right behind him.
He spun around only to be met with Blake. Her back was turned to him as she aimed her gun into the darkness.
"I can see where you are, Torchwick." She said matter-of-factly. "Hiding won't help you with me."
Anon grunted in pain.
"You ok?" Blake asked worriedly.
"Deal with this asshole first, worry about me second."
The building shook, a massive explosion detonating outside the building.
"What's going on outside?!" Blake asked.
I mean I know I said raise hell, but don't you think that's a bit much?!
The sound of steps echoed in the warehouse. Blake snapped to attention and fired potshots at a fleeing Torchwick.
"He's fleeing outside, let's go!" Blake yelled before hitting the ground running.
...
The docks were in utter pandemonium. First, Ruby, Weiss and Penny show up. Then Penny fired a laser that detonated one of the Dust containers and all of a sudden, the White Fang gets utterly demolished by the four girls. The unconscious bodies of White Fang members were strewn about as the four girls fought like hell was let loose. Yang panted with a wicked grin on her face, standing in front of her was an equally exhausted White Fang Boss.
"You humans..." He spoke in between breaths. "Are a fucking blight on this world."
Yang giggled weakly.
"Well, aren't you racist." She quipped.
The boss growled, clutching his maul closely before recklessly charging the blonde brawler. Yang weaved out of the strike's way and threw an uppercut. Her fist connected with the boss' chin and with one last burst of strength, Yang sent the terrorist flying into the dock's cold waters.
Yang looked around, the fighting still raging as two more troop transport bullheads landed and more White Fangs poured out. Despite this reinforcement, it was clear that the pendulum swung in favour of the Huntswomen-in-Training. She took a moment to catch her breath before throwing herself back in the fray.
...
"Jesus, you people are fucking insane," Anon said as he witnessed the chaos.
"Wait, so I'm not the only one to notice?!" Roman blurted as he blocked a strike from Blake.
Torchwick batted Blake away to get some breathing room but judging from Blake's unrelenting pursuit, it was clear that Torchwick was on the ropes. Two more bullheads landed to offload cannon fodder and similar to the show, Penny was decimating the oncoming tide of terrorists.
Against all odds, Torchwick was winning against Blake. Using the handle of his cane, he hooked and pulled her leg towards him. With a mighty swing, he launched her one of the containers. Her head bounced off the hard metal before her body tumbled to the ground. Torchwick let out a cheeky laugh. Too bad Anon's still in the game. He unsheathed his sword and locked weapons with the wanted criminal.
"You're surprisingly strong." Torchwick drolled sarcastically as he slowly but surely overpowered Anon.
Anon grunted in exertion as he fell to one knee.
"I don't know why you even try." Torchwick taunted. "Look at you! You're barely able to defend yourself and yet you try and play the hero. It's pathetic!"
Anon grunted then smiled.
"True, but unlike you, my backup is top-notch."
Torchwick frowned in confusion before the sound of scraping metal cleared it all up for him. Torchwick threw Anon off and blocked Ruby's scythe just in time. He glared at her while holding up his cane defensively.
"Well hello there, Red." He greeted. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
She looked back to her sombre friend.
"I'll deal with him," She told him.
Anon chuckled as this situation reminded him of their first meeting.
"I'm counting on you."
She smiled brightly.
"Will do!"
Anon let Ruby deal with the criminal scumbag and hobbled away towards a slowly recovering Blake. He crouched next to her, holding up her head.
"Not too banged up?"
She groaned in pain.
"How did you say that one time?" She asked. "My head batters?"
He smiled.
"Yeah, that's the one."
...
Torchwick was at his wit's end. He was exhausted, his White Fangs were useless and now he was dealing with that annoying girl in red. The breeze from earlier brushed his neck. His eyes flickered to that girl in black, so vulnerable and defenceless. An idea sprouted and he smirked. He charged Red, their weapons locking. The shaft of his cane caught on Ruby's scythe. He angled the cane's foot so that it aimed directly at Blake. He wormed his thumb over the trigger...
...
A loud bang ripped Anon's attention from Blake and toward the duelling Roman and Ruby. A flare shot out of the cane and towards him and Blake. Everything went into slow-mo as Anon's eyes darted around. Ruby's expression was one of shock and fear at having realized what was going to happen. Roman smiled spitefully as he readied to flee. Yang and Penny were too busy finishing off the White Fang to notice the peril. Weiss saw what was about to happen but was too slow to interfere. Blake looked at the incoming projectile and clenched her eyes shut. Anon did the same, but not for the same reason. Blake was closing them on reflex, he closed them to steel himself for what he must do.
Anon threw himself over Blake, covering her with his whole body. The flow of time resumed as normal and the flare rocketed towards the two. The flare impacted directly into Anon's back in a spray of fire and blood. Anon's back arched as he let out a silent gasp. His skin blew off as the flesh and fat underneath charred to a bloody crisp.
Blake waited for the impact and the pain to come. She waited a few seconds longer. Curious at the lack of anything happening, she crooked one eye open. Her eyes widened as Anon kneeled before her, his back arched and his face twisted in pain. He finally croaked out a pained cry before collapsing on his side. Blake stared at her inanimate friend, shaken and stunned. Tears began welling as her pupils rescinded once she realized what had happened.
"ANON!" She cried out, scrambling to his side.
His only response was a whimper. The scorching pain radiated throughout his body, he could feel his flesh burning and what little fat he had on him render. The pain was too much and he passed out.
...
Torchwick chose this shocking moment to make his great escape. He loaded a smoke round into his cane and fired it at the ground. Covered by the smoke, he felt the breeze once more and followed it to freedom. Before anyone could react, he was gone.
Anon woke up to the sound of police sirens blaring, breaking the silence of the dock's surroundings. He groaned as he tried to sit up, only for a firm but delicate hand to keep him down.
"Take it easy." The masculine voice asked. "I'm working on your back, so kindly stay down."
Anon complied if only so that he doesn't inadvertently make things worse for himself. He felt a soft hand squeezing his, he looked up to see a sniffling Blake. To say she looked upset would be an understatement, her red and puffy eyes were a testament to that. His head craned around as he layed on his stomach.
Weiss and Yang were giving their account of events to the police. Penny was on her scroll, probably giving a report to Ironwood. Lastly, Ruby stood by Blake as she sat close to him, holding his hand tightly. She had probably been balling her eyes out since Anon had lost consciousness. Even now, she occasionally sniffled.
"Hey, I'm still alive you know?" He tried to soothe his feline friend.
"Barely." The paramedic said. "With how lean you are, it's a miracle it didn't just punch through you."
Anon rolled his eyes.
"I'm trying to reassure her dude, you're not helping."
"That's the therapist's job, I'm here to patch people up."
"You have terrible bedside manners."
Ruby stood to the side, looking sadly at the horrible wound on Anon's back. Anon looked back at the young leader, recognizing the look of powerlessness in her big silver eyes.
"It's not your fault."
"I should have known this would have happened."
"But you didn't." Anon shook his head then immediately regretted it as pain radiated. "You couldn't have known. Hell, I didn't."
Ruby nodded solemnly.
"The best you can do is learn from what happened so that this can't ever happen again," Anon explained.
Ruby gave a small smile at her friend's words of wisdom. The paramedic made a few finishing touches before applying some sort of gel sheet over his damaged back.
"There," He said. "The sheet will protect your back's exposed muscles until we get you to the hospital."
Slowly and with the help of the medic, Anon sat upward. Ruby's eyes shifted from his back to his emaciated chest, specifically the scar on his stomach.
"Hey perv, my eyes are up here." He joked.
"Not funny!" Ruby pouted cutely.
Anon noticed a black car pulling up, his mind immediately on Penny. He looked back and saw the robot girl preparing to leave. She turned back to look at the group. Having considered her robotic nature, Anon assumed that her optics could pick up on lip movement. Anon smiled at her and mouthed his thanks, calling her his friend. Penny brightened up immediately, giving him a grin and an enthusiastic wave. The robot girl happily hopped into the black car and it rolled off.
Having finished their testimonies, Yang and Weiss walked back to the group. Ruby walked over to intercept an upset Weiss. She brushed her intrepid leader and crossed her arms in front of the sitting pair. Instead of glaring at the pair as Anon expected, she was facing the paramedic.
"Well?" Weiss said curtly.
She looked at the paramedic expectantly.
"He'll need a skin graft, that's for certain," He said
"But he'll be alright?" She asked, not bothering to hide her worry.
"Oh yeah. Despite looking like he's made of popsicle sticks, he's surprisingly sturdy."
She let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank goodness."
The paramedic pointed to his split eyebrow.
"That on the other hand, that's gonna need some stitches."
Weiss stared at the wound, a familiar sting hitting her eye. Anon brushed his future scar and snorted.
"Hey! We match!" He joked.
Weiss stared at him and to his surprise, she started nodding.
"Indeed we do..." She simply said.
Well... Colour me surprised.
She turned to Blake.
"Do you know how long we've been looking for you?" She asked.
Weiss answered the question herself before Blake had the chance to answer.
"Twelve hours. Of which, I have spent the totality of thinking about this entire situation."
She rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"And I've come to the conclusion that..." She paused suspensively. "I frankly can't be bothered to care."
Weiss deflated exhaustively, to everyone's shock.
"Anon said that you used to be in the White Fang, correct?"
"Y-yes, I haven't been a member since-"
Wiss raised a silencing finger.
"Then, as mentioned before, I don't care." She crossed her arms but smiled. "As long as you are my teammate... my friend, then I don't care about what or who you used to be."
Blake smiled, rapidly whipping away her tears.
"Thank you, Weiss."
Now she was glaring at Anon.
Oh boy.
"Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
He looked at each member of Team RWBY, each of them looked pained at tonight's events.
"I think I know."
"Then why did you do it, despite knowing what would happen?"
Anon glanced around, confused.
"Wait, are we talking about how I basically ghosted you three or-"
"Why didn't you use your aura, you idiot?!" Weiss admonished.
Anon shrugged.
"I don't have one."
Team RWBY took a second to process what he just said.
"WHAT?!" The girls screamed in unison.
"I don't have an aura," He repeated nonchalantly.
"And that never came up because?" Yang asked.
"You never fucking asked."
"Are you kidding me?!"
"If I was I wouldn't have a massive third-degree burn on my back and missing a carpet's worth of skin, now would I?"
The girls were utterly bewildered. Weiss facepalmed and shook her head.
"Unbelievable."
Anon felt the grip on his hand squeezing tighter, tears flew anew onto Blake's face.
"Why?" She managed to say. "You could have died!"
"Because you were in danger."
"That's it?!"
"Aren't you trying to be a Huntswoman? How is that not a good enough reason?"
Blake clammed up.
"A huntsman's job is to protect those who can't protect themselves, correct?" Anon let his answer stew for a bit before continuing. "To fight and die for the sake of others is what's expected of you in this line of work."
Anon gripped his shoulder, the pain in his back still stinging.
"My... well-being," He chose his words carefully. "Is not worth someone else's life."
He looked into Blake's eyes as he said this.
"All I lost is some skin off my back. If I have to give up limbs or even my life to save someone in need, I'll do it."
Only then will I feel like I've done enough.
RWBY was stunned at this answer, they probably never thought about it that way.
"Wow." Was all Yang could say.
Weiss was equally speechless.
"And here I was going to rant about you being a reckless idiot."
"Oh, I am." He joked.
She rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Clearly."
Blake enrolled her arms around his neck carefully.
"Just... Don't do something like that ever again..." She asked quietly.
He hugged her back.
"I can't really promise you that, considering all four of you have a propensity to get into trouble."
"That's not true!" Ruby sulked.
"Uhhh, our first meeting? Weiss's fight with the Boarbatusk? Even though he's not part of the team, Jaune's whole bullying debacle that ended with a fucking Ursa attack? All of this happened in only the first semester!"
He scoffed.
"Y'all are fucking action-adventure protagonists!"
And that's a fucking fact!
Blake still held him closely, clearly not feeling well emotionally. Anon sighed.
"How about this," He grabbed Blake's chin and lifted it. "If I watch your back, watch mine. If one of us is in trouble, we save the other."
He lifted his pinky with a cheeky smile.
"Deal?"
Blake looked at him, then the pinky. She hesitated before locking fingers with him.
"Deal..." She smiled. "Partner-in-crime."
He grinned, his eyes shining with life.
"You know it~."
Ozpin sat in his office, hands and legs crossed. On his computer screen was a live feed of the Schnee private docks. He had a sly smile on his face.
"An interesting turn of events, Mister Hope."
A message popped up in front of the feed.
'QROW: QUEEN HAS PAWNS'
Ozpin blinked before his gaze drifted back to the live feed, to Anon specifically.
"It appears that things will get... Complicated." He sipped from his cup. "I have a feeling that you will have quite the road ahead of you, Anon Hope."
Let us hope that you will live up to your namesake.
V1E9: END!
VOLUME 1: COMPLETED!
NEXT ON PLAYLIST: V2E1 - COMING SOON!